Flynn, Grizzlies take down Tornado

ASHLAND — Ashland senior pitcher Jamie Flynn shut down North Medford from the third inning on and Bryce Rogan lined a two-run single to break a tie in the sixth inning as the Grizzlies toppled the Black Tornado 4-2 Saturday in a nonconference game at North Mountain Park.

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Posted Apr. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Posted Apr. 7, 2013 at 12:01 AM

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ASHLAND — Ashland senior pitcher Jamie Flynn shut down North Medford from the third inning on and Bryce Rogan lined a two-run single to break a tie in the sixth inning as the Grizzlies toppled the Black Tornado 4-2 Saturday in a nonconference game at North Mountain Park.

After Vince Cammarota was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth, North Medford pitcher David Crofton induced an infield pop up by Ian Alpenia. That brought up Rogan, Ashland's lefty leadoff hitter, who drove Crofton's next offering into center to score Jack Carroll and Steen Fredrickson, breaking a 2-2 tie.

"Bryce has been clutch, not only driving in runs but setting the table for us as a leadoff hitter," Ashland coach John Wallace said of Rogan. "He's really sparked our offense. He's a tough kid, he's a clutch kid and he doesn't feel the pressure. He can live up to the big moments."

Flynn walked Hayden Evans to leadoff the top of the seventh, but struck out the next two batters before inducing a groundout to second by Christian Gillis to end the game.

Flynn (2-2) struck out 10 with three walks in the complete-game effort to help Ashland (6-5) win for the sixth time in its last seven games and climb above .500 for the first time this season.

"I thought (Flynn) pitched great today," Wallace said. "He gave up a couple runs early and then just bared down and was tough. I told him to be the toughest guy out on the field today and I thought he did that. He really took control of the game."

North Medford (9-2), which suffered its first loss to a team from Oregon, took a 2-1 lead in the top of the second on Josh Berman's two-run double but was held scoreless on one hit the rest of the way by the hard-throwing Flynn (2-2). Berman had two of North Medford's three hits.

Ashland's Steen Fredrickson, who was 2-for-2 with two runs, scored on a wild pitch to tie the game in the bottom of the second.

The Grizzlies gave Flynn a brief 1-0 lead in the first when Gillis slipped while attempting to field Eric Carlson's single to center, allowing Ryan Bottimore to score from first.

Berman started for the Tornado but was pulled early after allowing two runs — one earned — on a hit, two walks and a hit batter in 11/3 innings. Micah Brown took over and held the Grizzlies scoreless on two hits until Crofton took over to start the fifth.

GRANTS PASS 3-11, EUREKA 0-1 — At Grants Pass, Ben Glaeser tossed his second shutout in nine days in the first game, and Grants Pass had 14 hits to end the second game in six innings in a nonleague twin bill.

Glaeser struck out seven and walked two for his second straight complete-game gem in his first appearance since no-hitting South Eugene on March 28. He received all the support he would need in the first inning, as Chace VanEss, Justin Spinner and Easton Bents each doubled to give the Cavemen (9-2) a quick 3-0 lead.

In Game 2, Spinner went 4-for-4 with an RBI and three runs and Chris Leenknecht 2-for-4 with a run to help Grants Pass win by the 10-run mercy rule. Starting pitcher Ian Fulton surrendered one run on three hits in five innings.

ST. MARY'S 18-8, LOST RIVER 0-1 — At Merrill, St. Mary's tallied 26 runs and Lost River made 14 errors in the nonleague doubleheader.

In the opener, Christian Aviles allowed one hit with five strikeouts in four innings. Dan Seus went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored and Dan Leavens 2-for-4 with three runs, while Ryan Ross added two runs and two RBIs and Duncan O'Boyle three runs for the Crusaders (9-3).

In Game 2, Ross was 3-for-4 and Seus 2-for-2. Joe Hammonds collected three RBIs and earned the win on the mound after allowing one hit and one run and fanning six in four innings against Lost River (0-11).